CHAPTER 5-A Bicycle and Skateboard Ordinance Article I. Bicycles. 5-A.01. Definitions. 5-A.02. Applicability. 5-A.03 Registration Required. 5-A.04. General Bike Regulations. Article II. Skateboards, Scooters and Rollerblades. 5-A.05. General Regulations. 5-A.05.010. Skating on Sidewalks. 5-A.05.020. Skating at Night, Equipment Required. 5-A.05.030. Clinging to Vehicles. Article I. Bicycles. 5-A.01. Definitions. 1. ABicycle@. A vehicle consisting of a light frame mounted on two wire-spoked wheels one behind the other and having a seat, handlebars for steering, brakes, and is propelled with hand cranks or foot pedals. The term shall also include three-wheeled bicycles. 2. ARoadway@. That portion of a street or highway improved, designed, or ordinarily used for vehicular travel. In the event a highway includes two or more separate roadways, the term roadway@ as used herein shall refer to any such roadway separately but not to all such roadways collectively. 3. Skateboard, Scooter, Rollerblade or Other Wheeled Device. Such definition shall include any item commonly known as and associated with the terms skateboard, scooter, rollerblade, roller skates, or similar item. Page 1 of 6
4. AStreet or highway@. Every way or place of whatever nature dedicated and open to the use of the public, as a matter of right, for purposes of travel and public use. 5-A.02. Applicability. 5-A.02.010. Application of Chapter. The provisions of this chapter shall apply whenever any bicycle is operated upon any street or highway or upon any path or trail within the City of Hot Springs, subject to those exceptions stated herein. 5-A.03 Registration Required. 5-A.03.010. Bicycle Registration. A. Every owner of a bicycle who is a resident of the City of Hot Springs shall register with the Police Department his or her name and address, the serial number, make, style and general description of the bicycle within twenty-one (21) days of acquiring the bicycle. B. No person who resides in the city shall ride or propel a bicycle on any street or any public path or trail unless the bicycle has been registered in accordance with this Section. 5-A.03.020. Mechanical Condition. A. The police department shall have authority to inspect all bicycles for mechanical fitness prior to registration. B. Every bicycle when in use at nighttime shall be equipped with a lamp on the front which shall emit a white light visible from a distance of at least five hundred feet (500') to the front and with a red reflector on the rear of a type which shall be visible from all distances from fifty feet (50') to three hundred feet (300') to the rear when directly in front of lawful upper beams of headlamps on a motor vehicle. A lamp emitting a red light visible from a distance of five hundred feet (500') to the rear may be used in addition to the red reflector. Page 2 of 6
C. Every bicycle shall be equipped with a brake which will enable the operator to make the braked wheel skid on dry, level, clean pavement. 5-A.04. General Bike Regulations. 5-A.04.010. Traffic Laws Apply to Persons Riding Bicycles. Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by the laws of this State declaring rules of the road applicable to vehicles or by the traffic ordinances of this City applicable to the driver of a vehicle, except as to special regulations in this chapter and except as to those provisions of law and ordinances which by their nature can have no application. 5-A.04.020. Obedience to Traffic Control Devices. A. Any person operating a bicycle shall obey the instructions of official traffic control signals, signs, and other control devices applicable to vehicles, unless otherwise directed by a police officer. B. Whenever authorized signs are erected indicating that no right or left or U-turn is permitted, no person operating a bicycle shall disobey the direction of any such sign, except where such person dismounts from the bicycle to make any such turn, in which event such person shall obey the regulations applicable to pedestrians. 5-A.04.030. Riding on Bicycles. A. A person propelling a bicycle shall not ride other than astride a permanent and regular seat attached thereto. B. No bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designated and equipped. C. Bicycle riders under the age of sixteen (16) shall be required to wear a safety helmet. Page 3 of 6
5-A.04.040. Riding on Roadways and Bicycle Paths. A. Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right-hand side of the roadway as practicable, exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction. B. Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall not ride more than two (2) abreast. C. Whenever a usable path for bicycles has been provided adjacent to a roadway, bicycle riders shall use such path and shall not use the roadway. 5-A.04.050. Speed. No person shall operate a bicycle at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions then existing. 5-A.04.060 Emerging from Alley or Driveway. The operator of a bicycle emerging from an alley, driveway, or building, shall upon approaching a sidewalk or the sidewalk area extending across any alleyway, yield the right-of-way to all pedestrians approaching on said sidewalk or sidewalk area, and upon entering the roadway shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles approaching on said roadway. 5-A.04.070. Cling to Vehicles. No person riding upon any bicycle shall attach the same or himself to, or otherwise cling to, any vehicle upon any street or roadway. 5-A.04.080. Carrying Articles. No person operating a bicycle shall carry any package, bundle, or article which prevents the rider from keeping at least one (1) hand upon the handle bars. Page 4 of 6
5-A.04.090. Parking. No person shall park a bicycle upon a street other than upon the roadway against the curb or upon the sidewalk in a rack to support the bicycle or against a building or at the curb, in such manner as to afford the least obstruction to pedestrian traffic. 5-A.04.100. Riding on Sidewalks. A. No person shall ride a bicycle upon a sidewalk within a business district. B. The Police Department is authorized to erect signs on any sidewalk or roadway prohibiting the riding of bicycles thereon by any person and when such signs are in place, no person shall disobey the same. C. Whenever any person is riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk, such person shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian. 5-A.04.110. Parents and Guardians not to Authorize or Permit Chapter Violations. The parent of any child or the guardian of any ward shall not authorize or knowingly permit any such child to violate any of the provisions of this chapter. Article II. Skateboards, Scooters and Rollerblades. 5-A.05. General Regulations. 5-A.05.010. Skating on Sidewalks. A. No person shall ride a skateboard, scooter, rollerblade or similar wheeled device upon any sidewalk within a business district. B. The Police Department is authorized to erect signs on any sidewalk or roadway prohibiting the riding of skateboards, scooters, rollerblades or similar wheeled devices and when such signs are in place, no person shall disobey the same. Page 5 of 6
C. Whenever any person is riding a skateboard, scooter, rollerblade or similar wheeled device upon a sidewalk, such person shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give ample warning before overtaking and passing such pedestrian. 5-A.05.020. Skating at Night, Equipment Required. A. The rider of any skateboard, scooter, rollerblades or similar wheeled device who is under the age of sixteen (16) shall be required to wear a safety helmet. B. The rider of any skateboard, scooter, rollerblades or similar wheeled device who is under the age of sixteen (16) shall be required to wear reflective clothing or approved lighting device when operating said skateboard scooter, rollerblade or similar wheeled device after dark. 5-A.05.030. Clinging to Vehicles. No person riding upon any skateboard, scooter, rollerblades or similar wheeled device shall attach the same or himself, or cling, to any vehicle upon a roadway. 05-A.05.04. Helmets Required. The rider of any skateboard, scooter, rollerblades, or similar wheeled device shall be required to wear a safety helmet when utilizing the City s skateboard park. Page 6 of 6